How many Clásicos has Karim Benzema played in and how many goals has he scored?
Benzema is LaLiga's top scorer with 22 goals this season. He has also registered 11 assists and is top of the charts for goal-creating actions with 18.
Karim Benzema will miss El Clásico on Sunday, due to a calf injury picked up in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Mallorca on Monday. The Frenchman scored a brace but the niggle has ruled him out of the clash with Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu. You can watch El Clásico live on ESPN in the US. The game gets underway at 16:00 pm ET / 13:00 pm PT.
Madrid have a 10-point lead at the top of LaLiga going into this one and would rather have Benzema fit and ready for their Champions League quarter-final matches with Chelsea in April. With Benzema in excellent form, there have been limited opportunites for the likes of Luka Jovic to get game time under Ancelotti this season, so it remains to be seen who will replace the 34-year-old up front.
Benzema is LaLiga's top scorer with 22 goals this season. He has registered 11 assists (the most in the league) and is top of the charts for goal-creating actions with 18.
El Clásico greats
Lionel Messi is the all-time leading goalscorer in El Clásico, having netted 26 times against Real Madrid. Many legends have played their part in the famous fixture over the years. Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time top scorer for Real Madrid with 450 goals, notched 18 in the Clásico.
Former Madrid captain Raúl has 15 Clásico goals to his name. Behind Raúl are three players on 14 goals: César (Barcelona, 1939-1955), Ferenc Puskas (Real Madrid, 1958-1966), and Francisco Gento (Real Madrid, 1953-1971).
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Benzema in El Clásico
Benzema recently became Madrid's third all-time highest goalscorer, when he scored his 309th goal, taking him past club legend and former manager Alfredo Di Stéfano (308). Benzema is closing in on Raúl in second place. The former Spain international has 323 goals for Madrid, but Benzema is highly unlikely to reach Ronaldo's incredible record of 450 goals.
In El Clásico, Benzema has scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists in 41 appearances since joining Los Blancos in 2009.
Madrid looking to extend lead at top of table
Madrid have won the last five Clásicos in all competitions and as table-toppers, will once again fancy themselves to pick up the three points at home this weekend despite the absence of Benzema in attack.